Former CAF President Issa Hayatou, who passed away a week ago in Paris, will be buried in his hometown of Garoua on Friday. According to family sources, his remains will leave Paris today and arrive at Nsimelen International Airport in Yaoundé. A wake will be held at his residence in Yaoundé until dawn. The following day, Hayatou, a Prince of the Garoua lamidat, will be buried according to Islamic rites. A lamidat is a traditional Muslim chiefdom in northern Cameroon.
In a related development, former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, expressed his condolences, calling Hayatou’s death a significant loss to football and humanity. Ojo-Oba, who served as a CAF and FIFA Security Manager, said, “The news about the death of former CAF President Hayatou came as a shock because I was looking forward to sending him my felicitations on his birthday.”
He added, “You can just imagine how deeply shocked I was when I heard about his passing, but I’m consoled that President Hayatou did his very best for African football. His tenure witnessed monumental development across the continent, and we can never forget his good ideals.”
“To say Hayatou was a true servant of African football is an obvious statement because he devoted all his life to the growth and development of African football,” noted the former Oyo State Commissioner for Sports.